AAFP CME

ABFM MC-FP Guidelines

When did you last certify?

Last Certification Between 2003 - 2010

Congratulations! You have the option of taking your next Board recertification examination seven or 10 years from your last test, but you have to meet all of the Maintenance of Certification requirements to receive the three-year extension.

Part I: Professionalism

Maintain a valid, full, and unrestricted license to practice in the U.S. or Canada, and follow ABFM guidelines for professionalsim, licensure. and personal conduct.

Part II: Self-Assessment and Lifelong Learning

Complete at least one Self-Assessment Module (SAM) per stage, and earn the required credits of CME in the years before the recertification examination. View AAFP CME for MC-FP Part II »

Part IV: Performance in Practice

The MC-FP process has been sectioned into 3-year stages with specific requirements that must be completed by the end of each stage.

STAGE 1 (Three Years)

(Years 1-3)

Part II: 1 Self-Assessment Module (SAM)

Part IV: 1 Performance in Practice Module (PPM)

Part II or Part IV: 1 additional SAM or PPM (your choice)

STAGE 2 (Three Years)

(Years 4-6)

Part II: 1 Self-Assessment Module (SAM)

Part IV: 1 Performance in Practice Module (PPM)

Part II or Part IV: 1 additional SAM or PPM (your choice)

STAGE 3* (Three Years)

(Years 7-9)

Part II: 1 Self-Assessment Module (SAM)

Part IV: 1 Performance in Practice Module (PPM)

Part II or Part IV: 1 additional SAM or PPM (your choice)

Cognitive Expertise (Exam)

(Year 7 or Year 10)

Part III: Recertification exam

To meet your Lifelong Learning requirements, you need to earn 300 acceptable† CME credits in the six years prior to your examination.

*If you are unable to complete MC-FP Parts I, II, and IV in Stage 1 (Years 1-3) and Stage 2 (Years 4-6), you will revert to the seven-year track, and wil have to fulfill the following requirements before taking the exam in Year 7:

Part IV: Performance in Practice

The MC-FP process has been sectioned into 3-year stages with specific requirements that must be completed by the end of each stage.

FIRST 3-YEAR STAGE

(Years 1-3)

Part II: 1 Self-Assessment Module (most worth 15 points)

Part II: 150 acceptable† CME credits

Part IV: 1 Performance in Practice Module (most worth 20 points)

Part II or Part IV: 1 additional SAM or PPM (your choice)

50 MC-FP points (earned from SAMs and PPMs)

SECOND 3-YEAR STAGE

(Years 4-6)

Part II: 1 Self-Assessment Module (most worth 15 points)

Part II: 150 acceptable† CME credits

Part IV: 1 Performance in Practice Module (most worth 20 points)

Part II or Part IV: 1 additional SAM or PPM (your choice)

50 MC-FP points (earned from SAMs and PPMs)

THIRD 3-YEAR STAGE

(Years 7-9)

Part II: 1 Self-Assessment Module (most worth 15 points)

Part II: 150 acceptable† CME credits

Part IV: 1 Performance in Practice Module (most worth 20 points)

Part II or Part IV: 1 additional SAM or PPM (your choice)

50 MC-FP points (earned from SAMs and PPMs)

ONCE EVERY 10 YEARS

Part III: Recertification examination

The recertification exam is valid for ten years. It is separate from the MC-FP stage process outlined above. However, a physician must have completed the previous stage requirements - as of the last deadline - and be compliant with licensure and professionalism in order to take the exam.

Diplomates meeting all Stage requirements will be listed as board-certified on the ABFM website, while those failing to meet requirements for any three year stage will be listed as "not certified."